Climate and space resources of the world. Use of space resources

Currently, much attention is paid to the use of alternative sources of various resources. For example, mankind has long been engaged in the development of energy from renewable substances and materials, such as the heat of the core of the planet, tides, sunlight and so on. In the article below, the climate and space resources of the world will be considered. Their main advantage is that they are renewable. Consequently, their repeated use is sufficiently effective, and the reserves can be considered boundless.

First category

Under the climatic resources is traditionally understood the energy of the sun, wind and so on. This term defines various inexhaustible natural sources. And the category received this name as a result of the fact that the resources included in its composition are characterized by some or other features of the region's climate. In addition to this, a subcategory is also singled out in this group. It is called agroclimatic resources. The main determining factors that influence the development of such sources are air, heat, moisture, light and other nutrients.

Space resources

In turn, the second of the previously presented categories unites inexhaustible sources that are outside the limits of our planet. To the number of similar can be attributed all the known energy of the Sun. We will consider it in more detail.

Ways to use

To begin with, we will characterize the main trends in the development of solar energy as a component of the group "Space resources of the world". Currently, there are two basic ideas. The first is the launching into a near-Earth orbit of a special satellite equipped with a considerable amount of solar batteries. By means of photocells, the light incident on their surface will be converted into electrical energy, and then transferred to special receiving stations on the Earth. The second idea is based on a similar principle. The difference is that space resources will be collected by solar batteries, which will be installed at the equator of the natural satellite of the Earth. In this case, the system will form the so-called "lunar belt".

Transmission of energy

Of course, space natural resources, like any other, are considered ineffective without the appropriate development of this industry. And for this, effective development is necessary, which is impossible without high-quality transportation. Consequently, considerable attention must be paid to the ways of transferring energy from solar batteries to Earth. At the present time, two main methods have been developed: by means of radio waves and a light beam. However, at this stage, there was a problem. Wireless transmission of energy to Earth should safely deliver a space resource. The device, which in turn will carry out such actions, should not have a destructive effect on the environment and the organisms living in it. Unfortunately, the transfer of converted electrical energy in a certain frequency range is capable of ionizing the atoms of substances. Thus, the drawback of the system is that space resources can only be transmitted on a fairly limited number of frequencies.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any other technology, the previously presented has its own features, advantages and disadvantages. One of the advantages is that space resources outside of near-Earth space will be much more accessible for use. For example, solar energy. On the surface of the planet, only 20-30% of the total light emitted by our star falls. At the same time, a photocell that will be located in orbit will receive more than 90%. In addition, among the advantages that the world's space resources have, one can single out the durability of the structures used. A similar circumstance is possible in connection with the fact that outside the planet there is neither an atmosphere nor the effects of the destructive action of oxygen and other elements of it. Nevertheless, the Earth's space resources have a significant number of shortcomings. One of the first is the high cost of plants for extraction and transportation. The second can be considered inaccessibility and complexity of operation. In addition, a significant number of specially trained personnel will also be required. The third drawback of such systems can be considered significant losses in the transfer of energy from the space station to Earth. According to the calculations of specialists, the above-described transportation will take up to 50 percent of all electricity generated.

Important Features

As mentioned earlier, the technology in question has some distinctive characteristics. However, they determine the availability of space energy. Let's list the most important of them. First of all, we should note the problem of finding a satellite station in one place. As in all other laws of nature, the rule of action and reaction will work here. Consequently, on the one hand, the pressure of the solar radiation streams will be affected, and on the other hand, the electromagnetic radiation of the planet. The initial position of the satellite will have to support climate and space resources. Communication between the station and receivers on the surface of the planet should be maintained at a high level and provide the required degree of safety and accuracy. This is the second feature that characterizes the use of space resources. The third traditionally refers to the effective performance of photocells and electronic components, even under difficult conditions, for example, at high temperatures. The fourth feature, which currently does not allow for the general availability of the technologies described above, is the rather high cost of both carrier rockets and the space power stations themselves.

Other features

Due to the fact that the resources that currently exist on Earth are mostly non-renewable, and their consumption by mankind increases over time, with the approach of the moment of complete disappearance of the most important resources, people are increasingly thinking about the use of alternative energy sources. Including them include the cosmic reserves of substances and materials. However, in addition to the possibility of efficient extraction from the energy of the Sun, mankind also considers other equally interesting opportunities. For example, the development of deposits valuable for terrestrial substances can be carried out on the space bodies located in our solar system. Let's consider some of them in more detail.

Moon

Flights to it have long ceased to be aspects of science fiction. At present, the satellite of our planet is being explored by research probes. It is thanks to them that mankind has learned that the lunar surface has a composition similar to the earth's crust. Consequently, it is possible to develop deposits of such valuable substances as titanium and helium.

Mars

The so-called "red" planet also has a lot of interesting things. According to research, the bark of Mars is much more rich in pure metal ores. Thus, in the future development of deposits of copper, tin, nickel, lead, iron, cobalt and other valuable substances can begin. In addition, it is possible that Mars will be considered the main supplier of rare metal ores. For example, such as ruthenium, scandium or thorium.

The giant planets

Even distant neighbors of our planet can supply us with many substances necessary for the normal existence and further development of mankind. Thus, the colonies at the far reaches of our solar system will supply valuable chemical raw materials to Earth.

Asteroids

At the present time, scientists have decided that it is precisely the above-described cosmic bodies that are plowing the spaces of the universe that can become the most important stations for providing a multitude of necessary resources. For example, on some asteroids, with the help of specialized techniques and careful analysis of the data obtained, precious metals such as rubidium and iridium as well as iron were found. Among other things, the above-described space bodies are excellent suppliers of a complex compound, which is called deuterium. In the future, it is planned to use this substance as the main fuel for future power plants. Separately, we should note another vital issue. At present, a certain percentage of the world's population suffers from a constant shortage of water. In the future, such a problem can spread to most parts of the planet. In this case, it is the asteroids that can become suppliers of such a vital resource. Because many of them contain fresh water in the form of ice.